Dr. Mark Frankle, MD and Dr. Steven Lyons, MD discuss healthcare legislature before congress on Capitol Hill

Tampa, FL – Jul. 11, 2019 – During the 2019 American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC), orthopedic surgeons from across the country arrived on Capitol Hill to motivate Congress to support the Hospital Competition Act of 2019 (H.R. 506) and the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2019 (H.R. 1418, S.35).

Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Dr. Mark Frankle, M.D. and Dr. Steven Lyons, M.D. were two of over 300 surgeons that met with congressional representatives last month to voice their support of the legislative bills that are slated to improve the overall care of their patients. The two were met by fellow Floridian, Val Demings, a United States Representative from Florida’s 10th congressional district, who talked with them at length about solving the problems currently within the healthcare system.

The Hospital Competition Act of 2019 seeks to increase the amount of choice and access patients have to healthcare by lifting the restrictions on physician-owned hospitals, discouraging the merging of hospitals and increasing price transparency among others.

The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2019 aims to provide more transparency and oversight into the healthcare industry by ensuring that federal antitrust laws also apply to the health insurance business.

Also supported on Capitol Hill was the Protecting People from Surprise Medical Bills Act. This bill seeks to provide patients with a means to overcome ‘surprise’ medical bills. Unexpected billing not only impacts cost on the patient’s end, but also affects the relationship between the patient and the physician.

Orthopaedic surgeons from across the country, including your physicians at Florida Orthopaedic Institute seek to ensure the greatest of outcomes for their patients. In supporting these bills, the satisfaction rate among patients only has potential to increase.

About Florida Orthopaedic Institute

Founded in 1989, Florida Orthopaedic Institute is Florida’s largest physician-led orthopedic group. It provides expertise and treatment of orthopedic-related injuries and conditions, including adult reconstruction and arthritis, foot and ankle, general orthopedics, hand and wrist, orthopedic trauma, shoulder and elbow, spine, interventional pain management, sports medicine, podiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, chiropractic services, and physical and occupational therapy, among others. The organization treats patients throughout its surgery centers in North Tampa, South Tampa, and Citrus Park, at several orthopaedic Urgent Care centers and at office locations in Bloomingdale, Brandon, Citrus Park, Gainesville, Lakeland, Northdale, North Tampa, Ocala, Palm Harbor, Riverview, South Tampa, Sun City Center and Wesley Chapel.

July 11, 2019